Opportunities on the Out

Opportunities on the Out is StandOut’s job board. It’s where we share opportunities from employers and training providers we know to be reliable, supportive and welcoming of applicants with convictions.

We hope that Opportunities on the Out is a useful resource, however, it is important to remember that it does not replace your own job search.

If you would like support with any aspect of your job search, want to chat through one of the opportunities below - or need support with anything else, please get in touch with one of our coaches.

Want to get in touch?

Career Hub

StandOut have just hosted one of our quarterly Career Hubs in Victoria! This is an amazing opportunity to network with employers face to face, work one-to-one with an expert towards gaining employment, meet other StandOut participants and share your experiences of job searching with others who may have experienced similar challenges. Its a very supportive and motivating place. If you are interested in coming to the next event please get in touch with a StandOut coach and we would love to have you along!

Employment

Sohaila: Bar Person - Shoreditch

As a bar person you will work in Sohailas wine and cocktail bar within a busy restaurant. Its a fantastic opportunity to grow and develop your bar skills and wine knowledge as well as customer service as you will double up as front of house as required. You will also assist with ordering, stock takes, and other admin duties. 

The Sohaila restaurant is part of the Fat Macys programme which helps people from marginalised backgrounds into housing and employment from hostel to home and so another part of the role is supporting and guiding the trainees as they complete their journey on the programme.

📰 Contract: 20-25 hours a week

📍 Location: Sohaila, 232 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6PJ

💰 Pay: £15/16 per hour (depending on experience)*

Eligibility: Preferably 2 years working in hospitality but not essential. No offence exclusions.

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Veolia- Service engineer

 As a service engineer you will be responsible for hands on servicing and repair of water treatment equipment as well as undertaking scheduled contract service visits, Emergency call out activity (occasionally outside normal working hours) repairing of customer equipment and Installation of new equipment where required.

You will Hold a Mechanical or Electrical Engineering qualification – Level 3 or higher, have plant maintenance/fault finding experience one years driving experience and general computer litaracy.

📰 Contract: Permanent contract-full time

📍 Location: London- Harlow

💰 Pay: £35k per annum plus company van.

Eligibility: They exclude those with sexual, arson or terror offences (but the opportunity to have a conversation around offence circumstances for arson given the range of offences that fall into this category.)

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Network Rail-Track Operative

Join Network Rail as a Track Operative and play a key role in maintaining and repairing the rail infrastructure. Working in small teams, you'll support the safe and smooth operation of the railway through hands-on maintenance of tracks, sleepers, ballast, and drainage systems. This is a physically demanding role involving outdoor work in all weather, often during night shifts.

Their is no prior rail experience needed as full training is provided but you will require a driving license, strong communication skills and teamwork.

This is an opportunity to start a rewarding career with a clear progression path to Technician or Team Leader roles.

📰 Contract: Full-time

📍 Location: London Bridge

💰 Pay: £30,351 per year + Allowance

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Practical Lead, Poppy’s Funeral Care

Poppy’s are looking for an organised, responsible, strong person to help assist with the smooth-running of their practical work, within and around their mortuary. This might include having responsibility for the practical elements of funerals, carrying the coffin at funerals, lining coffins, cleaning vehicles and other practical tasks. Poppy’s are a small down-to-earth organisation who care deeply about funeral care and want it to be as personal experience for their clients. Valid UK driving licence needed.

📰 Contract: Zero hours contract, shifts usually Monday-Friday daytimes

📍 Location: Tooting, London

💰 Pay: £14.70 per hour with £17.45 for overtime

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Food Cycle- Volunteer in hosting, cooking or delivering.

Volunteers help organise and run free weekly community meals using surplus food, taking on roles like cooking, hosting guests, collecting donations, or leading projects. The process begins by registering and then completing basic online training in food safety and health & safety. There are then opportunities to help the homeless or people in need of food by signing up to shifts weekly in whatever you want to help with out of cooking, hosting or delivering.

In the cooking role you will be working to prepare meals for the people attending, whilst in a host role you will be greeting the people coming for food and talking to them about their experiences, finally if you are driving you deliver to people in the community who arent able to come into the centre.

The experience is inclusive and supportive, offering adjustments for accessibility, and helps build vital skills like teamwork, communication, and empathy while reducing food waste and social isolation.

📰 Contract: 0 hour (sign up to your own shifts)
📍 Location: Various locations around London.

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Education and training

Fine Cell Work apprentice: Open the gate programme

Open the gate is a programme specifically designed for prison leavers to support them back into work. You will work with a dedicated engagement and support officer who offers support tailored to you and you will also work alongside the wider team. You will gain work experience in textiles production, administration and warehousing & dispatch. As well as support in accredited and non-accredited training, creative workshops, CV writing, an employment reference, professional mentoring, support with goal setting & action planning, grant funding towards further training or small-business development, Information and support towards business planning and self-employment and guidance on disclosure and signposting support.

Timings: You will attend the Battersea Hub for 1 or 2 days per week for between 3 and 12 months, depending on your goals. Roles are unpaid but lunch and travel expenses are covered.

Location: Battersea

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Project ReMAKE: Self employment course

A course for people who have left prison that have there own business idea and would like help to move this forwards. Typically there are 12-15 entrepreneurs per course and each person will get the chance to work 1/1 with a business mentor and 2 student advisors to formulate a business idea into a business plan. At the end of the course you will get the chance to present your business idea (Dragons' Den style) to a group of industry professionals who give feedback and help in establishing the business and the course then ends with a graduation ceremony to celebrate everyone’s progress.

📍 Locations: TBC
📅 Course Dates: Ongoing throughout the year

Explore the full range of opportunities below.

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more.

Flowers Skills: Construction Training Programme

Flower skills are recruiting for a three week construction training programme that provides a City and Guilds level 1 qualification: Level 1 Basic construction which covers tiling, and brickwork. Level 1 Health and Safety, and CSCS test. The courses are for those 19+ unemployed, and in receipt of JSA, Employment Support Allowance or Universal Credit.

📍 Location: Charlton Training Centre, London

📅 Placement Dates: Every three weeks.

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more

XO: Bike mechanics course

7-week Velotech-accredited course equips trainees with bike mechanic skills up to Gold level. Trainees gain hands-on experience in a supportive environment with guidance from expert trainers Nigel and Tray, alongside full support from the Onwards and Upwards team. Trainees leave with technical skills and a clearer path towards employment or further opportunities.

They also partner with organisations, including charities and HMPPS-led initiatives, with the aim of understand and supporting people who have been released from prison or who are on probation. 

📅 Schedule: 4 days per week, 09:30–16:00 (Wednesdays off for appointments)

💸 Cost: Free and travel expenses paid.

📍 Location: Lewisham workshop and showroom

Get in touch with StandOut coaches to find out more

Events and Community

3 Pillars

Free Community Gym Sessions 

Sports-based mentoring programme for men who have been recently released from prison or are vulnerable to engaging in crime.

• Boxing Session - Tuesdays 1-3pm  

• Strength & Conditioning session - Thursday's 12pm-2pm. 

• Location: Black Prince Trust, Beaufoy Walk, London SE11 6AA

  Get in touch with StandOut coaches to be referred

West End Live on the big screen.

The biggest stars from London’s theatre are descending on Trafalgar Square for a showstopping weekend of live, free performances at West End LIVE. While the 2025 lineup is yet to be confirmed, previous events have included breathtaking productions from the casts of top shows such as Back to the Future, The Book of Mormon, The Lion King and Hamilton. Due to popular demand in previous years, the 2025 event is ticketed, with ballot entry now closed. However, performances will be livestreamed on a large screen in Pall Mall East, so arrive early for a chance to snag a seat.

Date: 20-21st June 2025

Location: Pall Mall East.

StandOut Support

• We have grants and financial support available; covering household items, emergency accommodation, travel, ID, food and more. We also have progression grants to support you with starting a course or purchasing equipment such as PPE to start work.

• Clothing (including coats) and toiletries are also available to collect from our offices in Vauxhall.

  Please get in touch with any StandOut coach if you are interested!

Other Support

Disclosure advice

• Unlock Free advice about criminal convictions and when you have to disclose to employers. They also advise on getting insurance, travelling abroad, self-employment and more. Call 01634247350 or WhatsApp 07824 113848. Many helpful resources online too https://hub.unlock.org.uk/
  

• Nacro Another helpline supporting people with convictions with disclosure, your employee rights, money management and more. Call 03001231999 or visit https://www.nacro.org.uk/criminal-record-support-service/